Not only professional works of art are found in Penza, but also wonderful and colorful works of traditional folk art. Russia is famous over the world for its “Matroshki” dolls and Abashev toys, as well as for its traditional, unique painting style found on kitchen utensils and even furniture. All of these things can be seen at the Museum of Folk Art. The Folk Art Museum was opened in Penza in January 1975. The status of the state museum was given to it only in 1992.

The museum building itself is a monument of the Russian skilful wooden architecture of the mid-19th century, made by the Sorokin brothers from Kameshkir. Oh, it is like a fairy-tale house in a big modern city! When you look at it you understand the beauty of the Russian house and admire the talent of Russian masters! The Folk Art Museum exibits wonderful works of traditional folk art. It keeps and gives new life to the traditional handicrafts of Penza region. The property of the museum is T.N.Zotkin’s pottery, R.F.Kochurin’s wood carving articles, E.K.Medyantseva’s straw works, A.I.Andreeva’s carpets… There are nearly 4000 exhibits in the Folk Art Museum. Personal exhibitions of local masters take place in the museum.

Any foreign visitor will be especially interested in what is unique only to the Penza region, so this will be a necessary stop during any tour. Even the exterior of the museum is an example of the traditional folk art represented on a smaller scale inside.

You should visit the museum by all means!

Penza possesses an interesting collection of traditional folk art in the

Folk Art Museum. What would you tell your foreign friend

about this museum?

Can we say that the Folk Art Museum contains the things that are unique

only to the Penza region? Why? Why not?

The first argument is that…

I am not sure that…

I am sure that…

Though (хотя)…Besides…

But…More than that…

I don’t know.On the one hand…

But on the other hand…